Legal Case of the Week: MH17

On 21 May 2016 reports said a law firm in Australia had filed a compensation claim against Russia and President Putin on behalf of victims of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17. RFE/RL stated that 'reports on May 21 said 33 next of kin were named in the claim filed by the law firm LHD Lawyers in the European Court of Human Rights on May 9. It seeks $10 million in compensation per passenger. The jetliner crashed in Ukraine in Russia-backed separatist-held territory on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people on board, including 28 Australians.’

The Guardian also cited reports that Sydney legal firm LHD Lawyers had served a claim on behalf of five Australian families: ‘Sydney man Tim Lauschet, whose mother Gabriele died on the plane, the Perth parents of scientist Fatima Dyczynski and the New Zealand widow of Robert Ayley are believed to be among those seeking $10m per passenger. the US aviation lawyer Jerry Skinner, who won compensation from Libya for victims of the 1988 Lockerbie disaster, is leading the 3500-page claim. Court documents reportedly allege the Russian Federation worked to keep its involvement in the crash hidden, failed to conduct internal investigations and that its cyber warfare unit hacked the Dutch Safety Board investigative website.’

The Guardian also states: ‘Malaysia, the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium and Ukraine have been exploring alternative options, including trials in international and national courts, after Russia vetoed a United Nations bid in July 2015 to form a tribunal.’

Last week New South Wales families ‘spoke of their grief at the inquest last week,' The Guardian reported. Meanwhile, ‘Fourteen Australian federal police officers are still overseas assisting with the ongoing criminal investigation to identify and prosecute those to blame. The criminal investigation into the MH17 crash is expected to continue until at least October.’